Zero shame and nothing to hide.

As the mum of a daughter who is (probably) not too far off getting her very first period (if my own age for getting it is anything to go by), I am making sure that when it does arrive, she is well prepared, armed with knowledge – and products – and so informed and educated on the matter, she will feel zero embarrassment or shame around this at all. Periods are NORMAL. They are part of our lives and health and bodies for most of our lives as women, and honestly, I find it so amazing how women are now beginning to shed any kind of stigma surrounding our monthly bleeds, and how much more open the dialogue is for all matter and phases of our reproductive system and our reproductive health. My 18-year-old cousin revealed she had been in school recently when her period arrived a few days early and she found herself without any pads or tampons and no bank card or cash on her to run to the shop to get some. However, cool as she is, she had simply mentioned this predicament to her classmates and one of her friends – a boy – kindly offered to run to the shop across the road for her and get some tampons. Just like that. And – to make it even sweeter – had told her it was no need to pay him back for the tampons – he was happy to help her out of this situation. I loved her story – and love how young girls today are totally owning their periods and feeling so comfortable talking about it – after all, why the heck shouldn't we?

'Mindful Menstruation'

Interestingly, Pinterest recently predicted 'Mindful Menstruation' among one of their major health and wellness trends for 2022 – basing their trend report on search activity on their platform. According to Pinterest's own trend forecasters, searches are increasing for menstrual cycle chart (+95%), follicular phase (3x) and luteal phase (+96%). Also, as Pinners search for tips to manage period pain, searches for ‘period care’ are up over 9x and ‘period hacks for school’ are up 4x. Turns out, users of the platform are turning to Pinterest for education on menstrual cycles and period products more than ever before and a recent global survey reveals why. The research, which was conducted by Opinium Research, surveyed 1000 women aged 18-50 per country in UK, US, Canada, France, Germany and Japan, and found that still, so many people feel they lack a full understanding of their menstrual cycles and feel embarrassed to discuss the topic broadly. Moreover, more than a third of respondents are keen to learn more about their menstrual cycles as it is a key pillar of their overall health and well-being. Because the truth is, with menstrual cycles impacting both a person's physical and mental health, it’s imperative that all people are given the tools and resources to learn more.

Pinterest’s Mindful Menstruation survey

• A quarter of people who have periods admit they don’t understand their menstruation cycle
• An overwhelming majority (68%) are eager to learn more about their menstrual cycles
• Among the Gen Z audiences (aged 18-24) are most interested in learning more about their periods and menstrual cycles with almost 80% reporting they want to educate themselves
• 35% of people report to be embarrassed to talk about menstrual cycles and periods

'We still need to do more in our schools and in our media to remove the taboo'

Letitia Kiu is a Pinterest creator with a special passion for period education. "Pinterest creates a unique opportunity to educate my community in a creative and engaging manner," Kiu explains. "Menstruation is an incredibly subjective experience, and as women are becoming more empowered to share their experience, Pinners are seeking personal stories to connect with. Compelling visuals alongside text create impactful learning that hopefully inspires more openness to share the many aspects of menstruation.“ Kristy Chong, CEO & Founder of period underwear company Modibodi agrees. “As much as we have progressed towards normalising menstruation, we still need to do more in our schools and in our media to remove the taboo," Chong explains. "Platforms such as Pinterest offer a global opportunity to share menstrual educational resources and images, have open conversations on periods, and offer support, which all help to normalise menstruation and remove the myths and taboos. Whether that’s through brands or through health experts and Pinners alike sharing information on menstrual cycles and menstruation in general, platforms such as Pinterest give menstruation a voice to a wide and diverse audience."